4 ms·
> If you do intend to be respectful, then you will know if using it is offensive or not in your given context. It's very easy to intend to be respectful but mi
by aflag 3y ago
> If you do intend to be respectful, then you will know if using it is offensive or not in your given context.
It's very easy to intend to be respectful but misread the context. Also, there are words that are so taboo they are not ok in any context.
I find it particularly hard to navigate the English taboos from a non native perspective. I believe the person asking wants to know how the word is seen by others, which is great in my opinion. Direct communication is much better than trying to guess.
- inferiorhuman 3y agoI believe the person asking wants to know how the word is seen by others, which is great in my opinion. Unlikely. Their tell is: these “woke” times
- aflag 3y agoMaybe he didn't mean that much by it. Different people, different countries, different contexts. Specially online, we definitely need to give the benefit of the doubt. A friend of mine, who doesn't speak English very well, thought the n word was a completely fine way to reference your mate. He was mortified to know what he was actually saying.
- inferiorhuman 3y agoPerhaps you're unfamiliar with how the term woke is currently used vis a vis American politics. It's a pejorative typically used as the foundation of a disingenuous argument about being respectful towards others or as a way of demonizing anything you disagree with. Woke was used in line with its most common meaning and scare quotes were added. It wasn't a mistake and the context was made explicit (offending people). It was used out of ignorance, sure, but not the kind of naive ignorance you're suggesting. It was used as a dog whistle. Unlike "the n word" which, in a familiar context, is used as a term of endearment in some groups, woke as an adjective has long since ceased to be used as anything other than a derogatory term used to vilify people you dislike.
- hgsgm 3y agoI disagree. Stay woke.
- aflag 3y agoWoke used to be an endearing term at some point. You're assuming that the quotes are there to poke fun of it, they could be there because it's a foreign or coloquial term that the author is a bit unsure about too. You have not to lose by assuming good intention until irrevocably proven wrong. The US, being influential, ends up exporting a lot of its internal politics, however other parts of the world don't necessarily interpret them in the same way. I've seen people in Brazil using the term woke in a positive way. To be honest, I only learned now that it's always pejorative.
- DropInIn 3y agoThe context where it was quoted makes clear they are from a culture/community where unfamiliarity is not a reason for the quotation marks. The intent and meaning is pretty damn clear imo.
- inferiorhuman 3y agoI've seen people in Brazil We're talking about an American term (ABCD), not a Brazilian one.
- IggleSniggle 3y agoPerhaps unlikely, but one of the rules of this site is to assume noble intent. I try to apply this, and I think it does generate overall higher quality discussion.
- IggleSniggle 3y agoI agree, and am merely encouraging this direct communication to be used with those you are directly speaking to. When it comes to things like this, there might be some broad understanding, but it doesn’t necessarily apply to the person you are speaking to.
- hgsgm 3y agoDirect communication about sensitive topic, and even non-sensitive topics, is offensive or at least rude in many to most cultures. Saying "I want the ketchup" at the kitchen table is generally considered rude.
- aflag 3y agoTrue, that's why it's useful to ask it online where you care less about offending people instead of asking it at a dinner party.